Rail-joint.



RAIL JOINT. APPLICATION FILED JUNK-Z14. 19x6.

Patented Apr. 24,1917.

2 SHEETS-SHEET I.

W. D. WILLIAMS.

BAIL JOINT.

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WILLIS D. WILLIAMS, OF EAST ST. LOUIS, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO WILLIAMS BOLTLESS RAIL JOINT MAN UFAOTURING COMPANY, OF PRESCOTT, ARIZONA, A CORPORATION OF ARIZONA.

RAIL-JOINT.

Specification of Letters Patent. Patented Apr. 24, 1917.

Application filed June 14, 1916.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, VfILLIs D. WILLIAMS, a citizen of the United States, residing at the city of East St. Louis, in the county of St. Clair and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Rail-Joints, of which the following is a specificatio This invention relates to rail joints, and is an improvement on the boltless rail joint shown in United States Letters-Patent No.

' 1,030,865, granted to me June 25, 1912.

The object of the present invention is to provide a rail oint having a removable side clamp adapted to be inserted longitudinally the joint and so slid into ends supported from one end of locking position with the rail in the joint.

Another object is to provide the removable clamp with webbed sides having buttress fillings adjacent to end webs for strengthening the clamp to prevent breaking when the same is rammed to or from looking position.

Another object is to provide the removable clamp with a webbed underside adjacent to the base flange of the rails.

Another object is to provide adjustable means for holding the removable clamp against longitudinal movement, as herein after more particularly described.

Another object is to provide the underside of the base of the joint with longitudinal ribs adapted to engage adjacent ties to prevent lateral movement of the joint.

Other objects of this invention are here inafter described and are set forth in the claims. Moreover, this invention consists in the construction, arrangement and combination of parts hereinafter more particularly described and set forth in the claims.

In the accompanyingdrawings forming part of this specification, like numbers of reference denote like parts wherever they occur, and

Figure l'is a plan view looking down upon a rail joint embodying the present invention;

F 2 is an elevation looking at the fixed clamp side of the joint, a part of said clamp being broken away and the adjacent base portion being shown in section, there being one rail end in place in the joint;

Serial No. 103,621.

Fig. 5 is a detailed view of the rail-retaining pin removed from the fixed clamp side of the joint;

Fig. 6 is a plan view looking at the underside of the joint;

Fig. 7 is a perspective view, on a reduced scale, of the removable clamp removed from the joint; I

Fig. 8 is a perspective view, on a reduced scale, of the joint with the removable clamp and the rails removed therefrom;

Fig. 9 is a plan view in detail on a reduced scale looking at the underside of the removable clamp; and

F ig. 10 is a plan view looking down on the adjacent end portions of the rails adapted to be supported in the joint of this invention and showing the beveled or cutout portions of said ends.

Base-plate 1 may be provided with two transverse ribs 2 on its under side which are adapted to rest against the longitudinal edges of two ties (not shown) and thus hold the joint against lengthwise movement, and transverse ribs 3, between transverse ribs 2, may be provided on said under side for the purpose of strengthening the joint, the transverse ribs 2 and 3 being of any suitable height and may extend substantially equal distances away from the main surface of said under side.

Two or more longitudinal ribs 4 may be provided on the under side of the base-plate, said ribs extending substantially from the ends of the base-plate to transverse ribs 2 and being adapted to engage'the surface of adjacent ties (not shown) to hold the joint against lateral movement. Extending between transverse ribs 2 and 3, longitudinal ribs 5 may be provided for the purpose of strengthening the base-plate and for the purpose hereinafter described; and, moreover, for the purpose of further stengthening the base-plate, longitudinal rib 6 may be provided. Ribs 4 may be substantially one-fourth the height of ribs 2; ribs 5 may be substantially half the height of ribs 2 and 3; and rib 6 may be substantially of the same height as ribs 2 or 3.

Formed integrally with base-plate 1 and on oneside thereof is a fixed side clamp 7, which is provided with inwardly-projecting supporting flange 8, and is undercut at 9 to form a flange-receiving recess 10. Webs 11 are provided for strengthening the side clamp without adding undue weight, and buttress fillings 12 are provided adjacent to the end webs as further strengthening means.

On the opposite side of the base-plate 1, retaining abutment 13 is provided (best shown in Figs. 8 and 1), said abutment being preferably formed integrally with the base-plate and being provided with webs 14:, the end webs being buttressed at 15 substantially as shown in the drawings for the wellknown purpose of strengthening the parts without adding undue weight thereto. Retaining abutment 13 has asubstantial vertical shoulder at 16 a ainst which one of the edges of the flange 1% of a rail 18 is adapted to rest, the other edge of said flange belng adapted to be inserted into undercut 9 borne by fixed side clamp 7, said shoulder and said undercut permitting the rails to he slid into the rail joint of this invention with their ends adjacent to each other, as shown in the drawings, there being a retaining pin 19 removably insertible through perforated boss 20 borne by the base-plate adjacent to fixed side clamp 7 said pin 19 when in retaining position in said opening passing through the substantially V-shaped slot formed by the beveled flange-edges 21 of adjacent ends of two rails supported in the joint of this invention and being adapted to prevent the lengthwise movement of the rails with respect to the joint and causing the expansion and contraction of the rails to take place within their own lengths.

Removable clamp 22 bears inwardly-projecting rail-supporting flange 23, and is provided with a beveled edge 24 adapted to bear slidably against a similarly-beveled edge 25 borne by retaining abutment 13. The under side of removable clamp 22 may be webbed (as best seen in Fig. 9) for the purpose of strengthening the same and for other purposes, and is adapted to lie adjacent to the upper side of a flange 17 of arail 18, the webs of said under side being adapted to rest upon the upper side of said flange 18.

In operation two rail-ends may be slid into base-plate 1 with the base flanges 17 of each rail in the undercut 9 of the fixed side clamp and adjacent shoulder 16 of the retaining abutment and with an underside of the rail-heads resting upon the appropriately shaped supporting flange 8 of said-fixed clamp and with retaining pin 19 in opening 20 and in the substantially V-shaped opening formed by the beveled cuts 21 borne by the base-flanges of the adjacent ends of said rails, there being, if desired, a cotter pin or key 26 Or the like removably borne by pin 19 for locking said retaining pin in engaging position in perforated boss 20. Removable clamp 22 may then be inserted in position with its beveled face 2% adjacent to beveled face 25 of retaining abutment 13 and with its appropriately shaped rail-supporting flange 23 supporting an adjacent portion of the rail-head, and said removable clamp may be rammed into place until the ends thereof are substantially flush with the ends of the retaining abutment and until the corresponding portions of bosses 27 which are perforated, are in alinement for permitting bolts 28 to the openings of said bosses to lock said removable clamp in adjusted position, the square head 29 being adapted to engage an adjacent rib 5 of the base-plate to prevent the bolt from rotating when nut 30 is adjusted on the upwardly-protruding screwthreaded end of said bolt. The portions of the bosses 27 borne by removable clamp 22 may be of a height to extend normally above the top of the corresponding portions of the bosses borne by retaining abutment 13, so that nuts 30 will bear upon the portions of the bosses borne by said removable clamp when said nuts are screwed home on said bolts, and the construction of parts may be such that the rail-head will be supported by flanges 8 and 23, respectively, with baseflange 17 of the rail supported in spaced relation to the upper surface of the base-plate 1 between undercut 9 and shoulder 16 (as best shown in Fig. 4). The portions of the perforations of bosses 27 borne by retaining abutment 13 are substantially U-shaped, and the portions of the perforations of said bosses borne by removable clamp 22 are substantially arcual segments (as best seen in Fig. 1).

Bolts 29 are adapted to prevent longitudinal movement of removable clamp 22, and as the rail-head resting upon flange 23 is forced downwardly upon said flange, the removable clamp 22 will bear upon beveled face or edge 25 of retaining abutment 13 and cause said removable clamp to hold the rail-ends in the joint firmly in place. As the parts wear through use, the base-flange 17 of rail 18 will move downwardly closer toward the adjacent upperside of base-plate 1, and removable clamp 22 will be pushed downwardly along the incline of the adjacent beveled faces 24 and 25, whereupon nuts 30 may be adjusted to tightened engagement with bosses 27 the greater height of the boss-portions borne by the removable clamp '22 providing that said nuts may always bear against said elevated boss-portion when be inserted through said nuts are screwed home even when railbase flange 17 is resting on the adjacent upperside of base-plate 1.

The outer side of removable clamp 22 may be webbed transversely (as shown in the drawings) and buttress-fillings 81 may be provided adjacent to the end webs for strengthening the removable clamp against breaking when the same is rammed or hammered to or from locking or keyed position in the joint.

N otches 32 or the like may be provided in the outer edges of the base-plate for receiving spikes or the like (not shown) for securing the joint to adjacent ties (not shown).

Openings 33 borne by the base-plate 1 are adapted to lessen the weight of the base, and openings 34, which may be in any suitable position between ribs 2, are adapted to act as drain openings for the joint.

It is, of course, understood that the positions of ribs 4:, 5, and 6 and their number may be varied from the construction shown in the drawings and that various changes in the construction, arrangement, and combination of parts may be made without departing from the nature and spirit of the present invention.

An important feature of the present invention is that the insertion of the rail-ends into the joint in substantially abutting position is facilitated by the construction herein described, which permits the rails to be inserted into the joint before the removable clamp is inserted and rammed to keyed position, and, moreover, the construction of the removable clamp is adapted to permit the same to be rammed longitudinally to and from supporting and keyed position in the olnt.

It is, of course, also understood that one rail-end instead of both rail-ends, may be inserted into the joint-base, the removable clamp then inserted and secured in position, and the second rail then slipped into retained position in the joint, or that any convenient mode of operation in adjusting the parts to and from assembled position suggested by the construction of this joint may be employed.

I claim:

1. A rail joint comprising a base-plate, a brace on one side thereof, and a removable clamp adapted to be slidable longitudinally t0 and from clamping position on the other side of said base-plate, said brace and said clamp having flanged upper edges adapted for supporting the rail-head, said clamp having transverse ribs on its under side.

2. A rail joint comprising a base-plate, a brace on one side thereof, and a removable clamp adapted to be slidable longitudinally to and from clamping position on the other side of said base-plate, said brace and said 'for supporting the rail-head,

clamp having flanged upper edges adapted for supporting the rail-head, said clamp having a webbed under side adjacent to the base flange of the rail.

3. A rail joint comprising a base-plate, a brace on one side thereof, and a removable clamp adapted to be slidable longitudinally to and from clamping position on the other side of said base-plate, said brace and said clamp having flanged upper edges adapted for supporting the rail-head, said clamp having transverse ribs on its under side and transverse ribs on its outer side, there being buttress fillings on said outer side adjacent to ribs at each end of strengthening the same against breaking when said clamp is rammed to and from clamping position.

4. A rail joint comprising a base-plate, a brace 011 one side thereof, a retaining abutment on the opposite side having an op posing face provided with a bolt-receiving notch surrounded in part by a reinforcing boss, a removable clamp slidable to position longitudinally of the base-plate and pro vided with a face contacting with the face of the retaining abutment, the face of said clamp being likewise formed with a boltreceiving notch complemental to the notch of the abutment and a surrounding reinforcing boss also complemental to the boss of said abutment, said base-plate being formed with a bolt-receiving opening registering with the notch of said abutment, re-

inforcing ribs provided on the bottom of the base-plate and about the opening thereof, and a bolt passed through the opening of the base-plate and the notches of the abutment and clamp having one end portion seated on the bosses and the other end portion engaged within the space between the reinforcing ribs.

5. A rail joint comprising a base-plate, a brace on one side thereof, and a removable clamp adapted to be slidable longitudinally to and from clamping position on the other side of said base-plate, said brace and said clamp having flanged upper edges adapted said base-plate having ribs transversely thereof and ribs longitudinally thereof on its under side, said transverse ribs being adapted to bear against the edges of the supporting. ties to prevent longitudinal -movement of said base-plate" and said longitudinal ribs being adapted to engage the adjacent surface of the supporting ties to prevent lateral movement of said base-plate, said transverse ribs being of relatively greater height than said longitudinal ribs.

6. A rail joint comprising a base-plate adapted to be supported on adjacent ties, transverse reinforcing ribs provided on the bottom side of the plate between its points of support, longitudinally spaced ribs con.--

said clamp for s ranged 1n abutting relation with the adjacent connecting ribs.

7. A rail joint comprising a base-plate, a brace on one side thereof, a removable clamp adapted to be slidable longitudinally to and from clamping position on the other side of said base-plate, said brace and said clamp having flanged upper edges adapted for supporting the rail-head, said brace having a clearance space adapted to receive the edge of the base flange of the rail, said clamp having a beveled side edge, and a retaining abutment borne by said base-plate and having a beveled edge adapted to coact with the beveled edge of said clamp for slidably adjusting said clamp longitudinally and laterally.

8. A rail joint comprising a base-plate, a brace on one side thereof, a removable clamp adapted to be slidable longitudinally to and from clamping position on the other side of said base-plate, said brace and said clamp having flanged upper edges adapted for supporting the rail-head, said brace having a clearance .space adapted to receive the edge of the base flange of the rail, said clamp ha"- ing a beveled side edge, a retaining abutment borne by said base-plate and having a beveled edge adapted to coact with the beveled edge of said clamp for adjusting said clamp relative to the railhead, said retaining abutment and said clamp bearing corresponding sections of openings adapted to form substantially laterally inclosed perforations when said clamp is in adjusted position, and

bolts adapted to be removably inserted in said perforations for locking said clamp against longitudinal movement.

9. A rail joint comprising a base-plate, a brace on one side thereof, a removable clamp adapted to be slidable longitudinally to and from clamping position on the other side of said base-plate, said brace and said clamp having flanged upper edges adapted for supporting the rail-head, said brace having a clearance space adapted to receive the edge of the base flange of the rail, said clamp having a beveled side edge, a retaining abutment borne by said base-plate and having a beveled edge adapted to coact with the beveled edge of said clamp for adjusting said clamp relative to the rail-head, said to the connecting ribs, a brace on retaining abutment bearing substantially U- shaped openings and said clamp bearing substantially arcual openings, each U-shaped opening being adapted to form a substan tially lateral inclosed perforation with a corresponding arcual opening when said clamp is adjusted to clamping position, and bolts adapted to be removably inserted in said openings for locking said clamp against longitudinal movement.

10. A rail joint comprising a base-plate, a brace on one side thereof, a removable clamp adapted to be slidable longitudinally to and from clamping position on the other side of said base-plate, said brace and said clamp having flanged upper edges adapted for supporting the rail-head, said brace having a clearance space adapted to receive the edge of the base flange of the rail, said clamp having a beveled side edge, a retaining abutment borne by said base-plate and having a beveled edge adapted to coact with the beveled edge of said clamp for adjusting said clamp relative to the rail-head, said retaining abutment and said clamp bearing corresponding sections of openings adapted to form substantially laterally inclosed perforations when said clamp is in adjusted position, bolts adapted to be removably inserted in said perforations for locking said clamp against longitudinal movement, and screwthreaded means borne by said bolts and adapted for adjustably bearing against adj acent portions of said clamp.

11. A rail joint comprising a base-plate, a brace on one side thereof, a removable clamp adapted to be slidable longitudinally to and from clamping position on the other side of said base-plate, said brace and said clamp having flanged upper edges adapted for supporting the rail-head, said brace having a clearance space adapted to receive the edge of the base flange of the rail, said clamp having a beveled side edge, a retaining abutment borne by said base-plate and having a beveled edge adapted to coact with the beveled edge of said clamp for adjusting said clamp relative to the rail-head, said retaining abutment and said clamp bearing corresponding sections of openings adapted to form substantially laterally inclosed perforations when said clamp is in adjusted position, bolts adapted to be removablyv inserted in said perforations for locking said clamp against longitudinal movement, and screw-threaded means borne by said bolts adapted for adjustably bearing against adjacent portions of said clamp without engaging said retaining abutment.

12. A rail joint comprising a base-plate, a brace on one side of said base-plate, a removable clamp adapted to be slidable longitudinally to and from clamping position on the other side of said base-plate, said brace and said clamp having flanged upper edges adapted for supporting the rail-head, a retaining abutment borne by said baseplate, an edge of said clamp being adapted to cooperate slidably with an edge of said retaining abutment longitudinally and laterally thereof, said retaining abutment and said clamp bearing corresponding sections of bossed openings adapted to form substantially laterally inclosed perforations When said clamp is in adjusted position, the tops of the bosses of the sectional openings borne by said clamp being adapted to eX- tend above the tops of adjacent bosses borne by said retaining abutment, bolts adapted to be removably inserted in said perforations for locking said clamp against longitudinal movement, and screw-threaded means borne by said bolts and adapted for being adjusted to bear against the tops of the bosses of said clamp Without engaging the tops of the bosses of said retaining abutment.

having a ribbed under surface, a brace on one side of said baseplate, a removable clamp adapted to be slidable longitudinally to and from clamping position on the other side of said base-plate, said brace and said clamp having flanged upper edges adapted for supporting the rail-head, a retaining abutment borne by said base-plate, an edge of said clamp being adapted to cooperate slidably with an edge of said retaining abutment longitudinally and laterally thereof, said retaining abutment and said clamp bearing corresponding sections of openings adapted to form perforations substantially laterally inclosed when said clamp is in adjusted position, bolts adapted to be removably inserted in said perforations for looking said clamp against longitudinal movement, and screw-threaded means borne by 13. A rail joint comprising a base-plate for supporting the one end of said bolts and adapted to be adjusted to bear against said clamp, said bolts having polygonal heads adapted to engage adjacent ribs of said under surface of said base-plate to prevent said bolts from rotating When said screw-threaded means are being adjusted.

14. A rail joint comprising a base-plate, a brace on one side of said plate, a removable clamp adapted to be slidable longitudinally to and from adjusted position on the other side'of said base-plate, said brace and said clamp having flanged upper edges adapted for supporting the rail-head, said brace having a channeled portion adapted to receive one side edge of the base flange of the rail, and a retaining abutment borne by said base-plate, an edge of said clamp be ing adapted to engage slidably an adjacent edge of said retaining abutment longitudinally and laterally thereof, said abutment having a shoulder adjacent to said edge and adapted to receive the other side edge of the base flange of the rail.

15. The combination With adjacent rail ends having adjacent cut-out portions on their base flanges, of a base-plate, a brace on one side of the base-plate, a removable clamp adapted to be slidable longitudinally to and from clamping position 011 the other side of said base-plate, said brace and said clamp having flanged upper edges adapted head of a rail, said baseplate having a perforation therethrough. and a pin adapted to be inserted through said opening and having an end adapted to engage in said cut-out portions to limit the movement of said rail-ends toward each other.

In testimony whereof I hereunto affix slgnature. WILLIS D. WILLIALIS.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. O." 

